Wesley William Wimmer

Wesley William Wimmer, a 4th generation Californian who’s grandparents arrived at Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento in 1846, was born and lived most of his life in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Wes spent his youth as a ranch hand alongside his father until he enlisted in the Army during the closing days of WWI and then moved to Paso Robles. in 1920 he went to work cowboying on the Cuyama Ranch with Jess Wilkensen as his cattle boss and later worked on the Cojo and Cummatta Ranch for Miller and Lux. During the 1920s, Wimmer spent most of his days in the saddle while at night learning to make horsehair ropes, rawhide reins and hackamores. Wes was well into his 30s before he began making bits and spurs while often crediting Frank Mayfield (1965-1929) as an early inspiration. In the 1930s Wes began selling a few pieces to local ranchers in the Santa Barbara area while also working for the Forestry Department. He soon married and set-up shop behind his home in Paso Robles for leather working and silversmithing. Wes built primarily bits and didn’t even make his first pair of spurs until he retired from the post office in 1968. Many of Wimmer’s bits were of the Santa Susanna cheek style and his few spurs were often based on designs from the G.S. Garcia catalog.

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